Working Paper Series,
Stockholm University, Swedish Institute for Social Research

Abstract: Background Individual education, social class, social status and income are all associated with mortality, and this is likewise the case for the position of the marital partner. We investigate the combined effect on mortality of own and partner’s positions regarding these four factors.

Methods

Prospective follow-up of information in the 1990 Census of the Swedish population aged 30-59 (N=1 502 148). Data on all-cause mortality and deaths from cancer and circulatory disease for the period 1991-2003 were collected from the Cause of Death Register. Relative mortality risks were estimated by Cox regression.

Results

All-cause mortality of both men and women differs by women’s education and status and by men’s social class and income. Men’s education has an effect on their own mortality but not on their partner’s, when other factors are included in the models. Women’s education and men’s social class are particularly important for women’s deaths from circulatory diseases.

Conclusions

The partner’s social position has a clear effect on individual mortality, and women’s education seems to be particularly important. The results appear above all to support hypotheses about the importance of lifestyle and economic resources for socio-economic differences in mortality.

Keywords: -

18 pages, May 5, 2009

Full text files

WP09no5.pdf  

Download statistics

Published as

Robert Erikson and Jenny Torssander, (2009), 'Marital partner and mortality: The effects of the social positions of both spouses.', Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health,, vol 63, pages 992-998

• Stockholm University, Swedish Institute for Social Research
• Ordering Working Papers
• Home page for this series

Questions (including download problems) about the papers in this series should be directed to Daniel Rossetti ()
Report other problems with accessing this service to Sune Karlsson ().

RePEc:hhs:sofiwp:2009_005This page generated on 2024-09-13 22:17:10.